Items18The creator’s order
  1. 1George MikanGeorge MikanBorn 18 Jun 1924The first dominant big man gave his name to a drill: the Mikan drill, alternating left- and right-handed hook shots under the basket, is still taught to young post players. Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers won five titles in six years from 1949, and the league widened the lane partly to limit him. Watch…0i
  2. 2Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarBorn 16 Apr 1947The skyhook is the most reliable post move in history, and it depended on footwork: Kareem would catch, turn his shoulder to the defender, step away with the inside foot and release at full extension where no one could reach. It helped him become the NBA's all-time scorer for nearly 39 years. Study…0i
  3. 3Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAt 6ft 5in, Dantley was usually shorter than the man guarding him, yet he scored heavily from the post for Utah in the 1980s with pump fakes, ball fakes and jab steps that drew fouls. He led the league in free throws made several times. He is the best example on this list of footwork and patience…0i
  4. 4Kevin McHale (basketball)Kevin McHale (basketball)Opponents called McHale's low post the torture chamber. With long arms and an array of up-and-unders, step-throughs and fakes, he could score from either block for the 1980s Celtics. His step-through after a shot fake is the move to study: he would pivot past a defender who had left his feet and…0i
  5. 5Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem OlajuwonThe Dream Shake is the gold standard: Olajuwon, who played football as a youth in Nigeria, combined spins, shoulder fakes and up-and-unders so fluidly that defenders guessed wrong repeatedly. He won back-to-back titles with Houston in 1994 and 1995, outplaying David Robinson and Patrick Ewing.…0i
  6. 6Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealBorn 6 Mar 1972Shaq is usually filed under power, but his drop step was quick and precise for a man of his size: one hard dribble, a spin baseline and a dunk before the help arrived. He won four titles and three Finals MVPs. Study his first step from the block and you see that even the most physical post player…0i
  7. 7Tim DuncanTim DuncanBorn 25 Apr 1976The Big Fundamental's bank shot from the left block, set up by a jab step and a quick turn, is the most studied move of the 2000s. Duncan won five titles with San Antonio and rarely wasted a step: he used the glass as a teammate and countered with a hook to the middle when defenders overplayed. He…0i
  8. 8Pau GasolPau GasolBorn 6 Jul 1980Gasol brought European finesse to the Lakers' back-to-back titles of 2009 and 2010: left-handed hooks, up-and-unders and patient pivots, plus passing from the post that kept defences honest. He was not physically overpowering, which makes his footwork more instructive. His duels with Dwight Howard…0i
  9. 9Zach RandolphZach RandolphBorn 16 Jul 1981Z-Bo rarely jumped high, yet he scored and rebounded for Memphis's Grit and Grind teams with pump fakes, shoulder bumps to create a sliver of space, and a soft left-handed touch. His 2011 playoff run, when eighth-seed Memphis beat top-seeded San Antonio, is a lesson in below-the-rim post craft. He…0i
  10. 10Lisa LeslieLisa LeslieBorn 7 Jul 1972Leslie's face-up game from the post set the early WNBA standard: catch on the block, turn to face, jab and either rise for a jumper or drive past a defender who had closed out. Her balance on the turnaround was exceptional, and she won three MVPs with Los Angeles. Watch her for how a tall centre…0i